Mayor's seat will see head to head race in election

Valdez voters will have to make a choice between two mayoral candidates when polls open this October 7.

“For mayor, we do have a race,” said Sheri Pierce, city clerk.

Valdez men Larry Weaver and Rich Long both returned completed petitions to the clerk’s office before last Friday’s deadline to have their names printed on the ballot.

Weaver, the now retired director of the city’s public works department, will face off against Long, a businessman, bus driver and sometimes community service officer. Long is also a former city council member who has unsuccessfully run for mayor in past elections.

It will be a different story for the three open seats for city council and the board of education.

“We pretty much have three for three,” Pierce said.

Incumbents Nate Smith and Chris Moulton both successfully filed petitions with the clerk’s office to run for council seats they currently hold. Shirrell is a former council member who has not held or run for public office for over ten years.

The three open seats for board of education will see three candidates.